John 5:2–4

The next thing premitted, is a more particular description of the place of this miracle it was wrought at the Sheep-gate, (as the word may be read.) of which Nehem. 3.1. so called, because being near the Temple, the sacrifices were brought into the city at that gate; or, at the Sheep market, (as we translate the word) a place near that gate, where, according to the liberty granted by the Law, Deut. 14 24, 25, 26. men might provide themselves of sacrifices; though now the corruption of men had brought these commodities into the Temple, John 2.14. More particularly, this miracle was wrought at a poole, which whatever use it had of old, (it may be, among others, for washing the beasts, before they were presented,) was now honoured with the Lords presence manifested there, in curing the diseases of all such as went into it, after an Angels troubling the waters, and therefore was frequented with a number of sick persons, who attended that signe, and were accommodated in five porches built about the pool. The name of this pool Bethesda, may either signifie the place of pouring out, to wit, of water, either into the pool by conduits, (being possibly that of Hezekiah; 2 Kings 20.20.) or out of it by pipes, for several uses; or, it may signifie, the house of mercy, because of the proofes of Gods mercy manifested to the sick there. As for the time of the beginning or ceasing of this miracle, it is needlesse to search into it, seeing Scripture elsewhere is silent about it, only it seemeth to have begun but of late among them. Doct: 1. The place where these persons lay, being a place of great concourse, and from whence they went into the Temple to worship, doth teach us, that it is a necessary meditation for men to have frequent and serious thoughts of their own frailty, that they may be humbled, and may be stirred up to presse more earnestly after God, in whom all is made up; this did the Lord preach by presenting these sad spectacles to mens view, in that publick place, as they went to the Temple. 2. Hospitality and compassion toward the afflicted, is a commendable duty, and the pains that a declining people put themselves to in that kinde, may stand up as a witnesse against others; for, though the Jewes were now declined, yet the pool had five porches, either built for the sick, or now converted to that use. 3. Where Christ cometh to any place, he will be sure to give a special visit to the desolate and afflicted, and to be at paines to come to them, who are not able to come to him; for, so is it to be supposed here, (as is afterward cleared) that Christ coming to Jerusalem, cometh to the Poole where the sick lay. 4. From this miraculous manifestation of God in the Church of the Jewes, we may learn, 1. Where God continueth a Church, although the people be wicked, yet he will not faile to give some tokens of his presence, specially for the good and behoof of his elect among them. Therefore when the Jewes had now long wanted publick Prophets, and were under deep distresse, the Lord giveth this miraculous proof of his presence; to confirm them, and especially the elect, that he did not forget them; to establish them in the love of their own Religion, when idolaters did prevaile over them, and to stir them up to expect the Messiah. 2. Incurable diseases and infirmites are not therefore desperate and hopelesse; for, God from heaven can help that, which no means on earth can do good to; and it is his ordinary way to interpose and appear, when matters are incurable and remedilesse otherwise, so much are we taught here, in that the blinde, halt, withered, and the disease whatsoever it was, was cured, and by these cures on the body, the Lord giveth proof what he can do to souls and inward conditions, or other outward lots. 3. Means of Gods appointment, how improbable like soever, should not be contemned; every thing being therefore useful because God appoints and blesseth it; therefore made he use of the water of this common poole, and that when it was troubled, (which it seems, should make it more hurtful) to be stepped into; though, it seems, there was no vertue put into the water, but only the troubling of it was a signe of Gods presence there. 4. Whatever good the Lord do by any mean, yet we are to see that all the vertue and blessing cometh down from heaven; for, an Angel went down and troubled the water, before that men got any good by stepping into it. 5. It is the duty of all such as are sensible of wants or infirmities, to slock to appointed meanes, and take up their abode there, as being the Lords trysting place; for, so doth the practice of these sick persons, teach; who abode and lay in the porches of the pool. 6. Much sense of need will make men assiduous and constant in their waiting on, in the use of lawful meanes, not giving over for delayes and disappointments; for, albeit the Angel went down but at a certain season; and albeit he only who stepped first in, was healed at that time, and many being there, would he disappointed and prevented by others, yet they lay still waiting.